Amusement device



Nov. 29, 1938. A, s. JONES AMUSEMENT DEVI'GE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Deo. 28,` 1936 INVENTOR. ,40e/4N 5. Jon/5.

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B Y M f 6%/ ATTORNEYS. v

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in amusement devices, and has reference to a railroad and roadway system having means associated therewith for selectively regulating traic passing thereover. The apparatus is constructed in such a manner that youngsters will not only be aiorded amusement in operating the trains and other traffic, but will also derive a certain amount of instruction from the operation thereof.

It is particularly proposed to provide a railroad track and a roadway crossing the track. I employ a novel system of signals for controlling movement of the trains traveling on the track and for regulating the traflic passing along the roadway.

As a further object of the invention I propose to provide a roadway for traffic having a runway arranged to form part thereof, and made to be tilted into an inclined position for imparting movement t the traffic. I also utilize a barrier that normally is disposed on the level of the roadway, and which may be raised by the operator for halting the tramo on `the roadway.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my amusement device;

Figure 2 a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 a transverse sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 a vertical section along line 5 5 of Figure 4 with the runways in tilted position;

Figure 6 a sectional view along line 6 6 of Figure 1, the barrier being elevated above the roadway; and

Figure 7 an enlarged view of the right-hand portion of Figure 5.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be clearly understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame generally indicated at I, and comprising in its structural features a top 2 having legs 3 for supporting the top at a convenient height above a floor or the like.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that I mount an endless track 4 on the upper surface of the top 2, and an electric train tis adapted to travel along the track. The construction of the train is conventional, and a reversible rheostat is provided as at Ii for regulating the speed and direction of travel of the train. I have shown a tunnel at 'l which houses part of the track.

For controlling the movement of the train I provide a signal 8, which consists oi a sheet of material 9 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft Iii. The sheet is formed with an aper- 10 ture II having an electric light I2 mounted therein. I have shown the signal as being ar-, ranged in substantially parallel relation with the side section I4 of the track, and a shaft I5 is connected to the shaft i through segmental bevel gears I6, (see Figure 3).

The signal 8 may be turned from the position shown in Figure 1 into transverse relation with respect to the track 4. During this movement a contact arm I'I secured to the shaft I5 and insulated therefrom will strike a contact I and close an electric circuit I3 so as to illuminate the light I2. The light is observable from either side of the sheet 9 and, if desired, the latter may have reflector buttons I mounted thereon 30 to enhance the appearance of the signal.

I provide a roadway indicated generally at 2l), which is arranged to cross the track Il in the manner shown in Figure 1. A base 2l of reetangular outline is mounted on the top 2, and partitions 22 rise therefrom in parallel relation with respect to each other to deiine stationary road sections 23 and 2li. Runways 25 and 26 are alined with the section 23, while runways 2l and 28 are arranged in alinement with the sec- 4,0 tion 24.

It will be noted that each of the runways to 28, inclusive, has a wall 29 extending along three sides thereof, the open ends 30 of the runways being arranged to face the stationary road 4:5 sections 23 and 24 so as to allow traflic, such as an automobile 3l, (see Figure 7), to pass from the runway on one side of the track il to the alined runway on the other side of the track.

For imparting movement to the traflic I provide means for hinging the ends 30 of the runways to the top 2 as at 32, whereby the runways may be tilted into an inclined position for moving the traiiic from one runway to the alined runway on the opposite side of the railroad track. I

have shown the hinging means as consisting of bolts 33 xed to the runways and projecting downwardly through openings 34 in the top 2, (see Figure 7). Springs 35 are arranged to urge the runways upon the top 2.

For tilting the runways, I make use of rods 36, having oiset portions 31 disposed beneath the runways, and these rods have crank handles 38 at the outer ends thereof. The rods are rotatably supported, and upon turning handles 38, the runways are tilted into angular position for imparting movement to the traic.

Referring now to Figures l and '7, it will be noted that I provide a recess 39 extending transversely across the roadway 2G, and a barrier 40 normally forms a closure over the recess to allow passage of traffic thereover.

In Figure 6 I have shown the barrier as being raised above the level of the roadway for halting traic, while in Figure 7 the top rail 4I of the barrier is arranged iiush with the roadway and forms part of the latter. Strips 42 are hinged to the top rail at 43 and to the bottom of the recess at 44.

For raising and lowering the barrier, I make use of an eccentrically mounted disc 45 that is connected to one of the strips 42 by means of a link 46. A crank 41, (see Figure 1), is operated by a hand-wheel 48, and upon actuating the latter the barrier may be raised or lowered.

As a further warning to the traiiic I mount electric lights 49 on the barrier, and a switch 5!) closes an electric circuit 5I, which includes the lights 49, when the barrier is in raised position above the roadway.

The traino along the roadway is controlled by regulating signals 52, which are normally disposed below the roadway in the manner shown in Figures 4 and 5. Each signal comprises a sheet of material 53 having lights 54 mounted in an apertured portion 55 of the sheet, the lights being visible from either side of the signals when the latter are raised above the roadway.

Rods 56 extend downwardly from the signals, and the lower ends oi the rods are interconnected by cross members 51. A lever 58 is swingably mounted at 59, (see Figure 4), and the free end i3 thereof is engageable beneath a stop 6l for the purpose of holding the signals in lowered position. Springs 52 are provided for urging the signals upwardly through slots 63 when the lever 58 is released.

As the signals are moved upwardly, a switch 64 is closed and the lights 54 are illuminated, the wiring circuit being shown in Figure 5. It should be noted that the signals 52 are mounted on opposite sides of the track 4 so as to be visible to trailic coming from either direction.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the apparatus, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The electric train is set 1n motion, and the speed and direction thereof 1s regulated by means oi the rheostat 6. Warnings are given to the operator of the train by the signal E3 in the manner previously set forth.

The traic is moved over the roadway by inclining the selected runway, and the traffic may be controlled by the regulating signals 52. In the event that the operator should desire to stop all traffic on the roadway, the barrier 4U is raised above the level of the road.

I claim:

l. In an amusement device, a tab1e, a road section thereon, two movable runways arranged on opposite ends of the road section and with their inner ends in abutting relation thereto, spring means engaging each runway near its abutting end for holding the latter to the table and in abutting relation to the road section and for yieldingly opposing raising of its outer end, and transverse rods carried by the table having cranks underneath the outer ends of the runways and having handles along the edge of the table whereby the two runways may be independently raised and lowered in rapid play to desired angularities for causing a vehicle to run back and forth between the extremities of the runways and over the road section in immediate response to control movements of an operation.

2. In an amusement device, a road section, two v lowered in rapid play to desired angularities for w causing a vehicle to run back and forth between the extremities of the runways and over the road section in immediate response to control movements of an operator.

3. In an amusement device, a road section, means for periodically passing traiiic transversely thereacross, two runways tiltably disposed on opposite ends of the road section and means for independently tilting the runways to permit an operator to propel a vehicle from runway to runway over the road section in timed relation to the movement of the traiiic passing across the road section.

4. In an amusement device, a road section, means for periodically passing traffic transversely thereacross, a runway tiltably disposed in alinement with the road section and means for tilting the runway up and down to permit an operator to propel a vehicle from the runway over the road section in timed relation to the movement of the traiic passing across the road section.

5. In an amusement device, a table, a road section thereon, two movable runways arranged on opposite ends` ofthe road section and with their inner ends in abutting relation thereto, spring means engaging each runway near its and having handles along the edge of the table and in abutting relation to the road section and for yieldably opposing raising of its outer end,

and transverse rods carried by the table having cranks underneath the outer ends of the runways and having handles along the edge of the tab1e whereby the two runways may be independently raised and lowered in rapid play to desired angularities for causing a vehicle to run back and forth between the extremities of the runways and over the road section in immediate response to control movements of an operator, the handles being suiiiciently close together to allow both handles to be grasped simultaneously by the operator.

ADRIAN S. JONES,

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,158,008 November 29, 1958 ADRIAN s. JONES.,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring oorrectionas follows: Page 2, second oolumn,' line 555 claim 5, strike out the words "and having handles along the edge of the table" and insert instead abutting; end for holding the latter to the table; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 10th day of January, A'. D. 1959 (Seal) Acting;- Commissioner of Patents., 

